HC Deb 14 March 1980 vol 980 c740W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the average per ton cost of pumping oil from the Forties field at the current rate of production on an historic cost basis; and how this compares with a similar pipeline constructed on a current cost basis.

Mr. Gray

I regret that information of this kind is commercially confidential.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the relative costs for the transport of oil to the United Kingdom by ships and by pipeline.

Mr. Gray

The most suitable method of transporting to shore oil produced at a United Kingdom continental shelf offshore oilfield depends on several factors including the size and location of the field. Information relating to costs for particular fields is commercially confidential.